Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1887-03-04
West Virginia Legislature.

systematic. The committee report that
actual investigation revealed conduct on
the part of the superintendent in his in
tercourse with female patients that is
reprehensible; that he visited the rooms
Of patients alone during day and night.
and closed the doors during his visits;
that he has been guilty of improprieties
and familiarties towards female patients
which were calculated to cause COM
ments and would not be tolerated in
private practice, and ought not to be
tolerated in public institutions, especi-
ally in an asylum for the insane. For
these reasons the committee recommend
the immediate removal of DR.. Bland,
the superintendent. An unmarried fe-
male patient, who has been an inmate
for years, gave birth to child on the
3Oth of January, 1887. Itwas suggested
by some officers, that certain male pa
ti.nt was father of the child, but as the
patient has been confined in one of the
ously stated as from March 20 to Apri!
/, 1886, the committee were not satisfied
with the explanation.
The committee also report that per-
sistent misuse of liquor at the hospital
is remarkable, and call the attention OF
the Legislature to the fact thatattention
was directed to this matter by the inves-
tigating committee of 1882, but nothing
has been done by the superintendent TO
correct the evil. The druggist stated to
the committee that from two to six gal
lons monthly were dispensed TO patients,
and two to five gallons had been used
monthly that he could not account for.
The officers of the hospital, except the
druggist, used liquor as beverage be-
longing to the hospital, and treat their
frienls. Some of the directors drink
liquor in the drug room and some have
taken bottles of it home. The hospital
property aud supplies have been used
for private benefit in careless manner.
The committee say that these matters
may be small in themselves, but breed
decentralization and scandal, and desire
that the board of directors will cause
such practices TO cease.
Friday being the last day of the ses-
sion, there was great excitement among
all parties in regard to the election Of
Senator. A caucus of all the Democrats
was held and heroic attempts were made
to agree on man. but non-caucus Dem
oorats refused 20 come to terms unless
the Camden men would bind themselves
to drop Camden altogether, their idea
being to hedge against the possibility OF
the Republicans going over to Camdeh
and eleoting him. Camden's friends re-
fused to accede to the terms of the kick
ers, and the conference adjourned with
out accomplishing anything.
At three o'clock Saturday morning the
Legislature adjourned without having
elected a Senator and with large guam
tity of unfinished business on hand.
The greatest mistake made by the Leg
i.lature was its failure to pass the gen.
eral appropriation bill, and great deal
of dissatisfaction is being expressed by
every one. The Governor will call an
extra session shortly after The fourth OF
March for the purpose of having gen
eral appropriation bill passed and to
have the reports of the investigating
committees of the insane asylum and
penitentiary acted upon.
The following dispatch was sent from
Charleston in regard to the appointment
of Mr.. Lucas to be United States Sena-
tor: "Governor Wilson has rendered
the United States senatorship to D. b.
Lucas, of Jefferson county, who WAS one
of the twelve Democratic "kickers' in
the recent senatorial contest. Mr.. LII
cas- has accepted the tender, and will re-
ceive his credentials shortly after the
4th of March next. The deter mination
of the Governor to appoint Lucas has
created great Indignation, not only
amoLg those Democrats who stood by
Camden during the session just closed
but among the twelve anti Camdenites,
of whom Lucas was the chief. Time
and again Lucas gave these men his
word that he had no senatorial aspira-
lions, and that his opposition 10 Cam
den. like theirs, came from the high
principle that there was already too
much millionaire and coal oil influence
in politics, aud that opposition to Cam
den was u good place to begin killing it
off. The threat is freely made that when
the, extra session of the Legislature is
called in April, that body. in dcfi'nce
of the constitutional provision to the eff
feet that no business must be considered
but that named in the Governors call,
and ignoring the appointment of Lucas.
will elect Camden senator by the fifty
Democratic votes outside of Lucas, and
will make an appeal to the United States
Senate to ignore Lucas and seat Camden.
Of course, the Governor would refuse Il
certificate to Camden, or any one else
who should be elected after he has APP
pointed Lucas. But the appeal to the
Senate would cover this"
Jas. S. Murphy, NJ. D., Company's
Shops, N. c., writes - sell great
deal OF DR.. Bulls Cough Syrup, for
every one who tries il likes it,"